2011
Jeff Sparks | Former Director, Heartland Film Festival
Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre from the University of Evansville
Master of Fine Arts in Directing from Florida State University
Assistant Professor of Theatre at St. Leo College, St. Leo, Florida 1978 – 80
Directed two plays each year
Designed and built two plays each year
Taught Introduction to Theatre, Acting, Directing, Theatre History, and Independent studies for Seniors – averaged 17 class hours per semester
Executive Director of the Indiana Children’s Christian Home from 1980-1990 – A residential treatment center for youth
Oversaw all financial and fundraising areas
Helped develop a total renovation of the treatment program to specialize in sexually-abused children with the Director of Counseling and the treatment staff
Oversaw the development of an on-grounds school including the design, construction and the raising of the capital funds needed
Founding Board member and Executive Director of The New Harmony Project from 1987-1999 – A writer’s laboratory developing new scripts for theatre and film
Helped develop the lab with writers and board members
Oversaw the running of the lab, including staffing of artistic talent
In charge of meeting the annual fundraising needs
President/CEO and Founding Board Member of Heartland Truly Moving Pictures 1991-2013
Developed the concept of a film festival and presented that idea to sponsors and funders which resulted in getting the festival started in 1992
Oversaw all aspects of the festival including artistic, business and fundraising for the first ten years
In 2003, with underwriting from the Lilly Endowment, oversaw the development of a management team to help take the festival from a regional event to a national movement
Current responsibilities include:
Overseeing the management team
Responsibility for the Artistic Vision – including programming of the festival and developing relationships with filmmakers, studios and distributors
Major involvement in the artistic vision and fundraising
Founder and President Emeritus, Heartland Truly Moving Pictures 2013-present
Senior Fellow, Sagamore Institute 2014-present
Working on Community Development in the Southeast neighborhoods of Indianapolis
Writing a book about the journey that became The New Harmony Project and the Heartland Film Festival
Personal – Married to Connie Kauffman Sparks in January 2015 with two children
Adam, married to Sarah with two children, Colton and Asher
Rachel, married to Nathan Graeser with a daughter, Adella
